Rep. Shane Abbott

Education; Establishes the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys within Florida Memorial University, rather than the Department of Legal Affairs; requiring Florida Memorial University, rather than the Office of the Attorney General, to provide staff and administrative support to the council; providing that the council's meeting times are approved by the president of Florida Memorial University, rather than the Attorney General; revising the number of members required for a quorum; authorizing members to appear by communications media technology; providing that members who appear by such technology are considered present and may be counted toward the quorum requirement; providing notice requirements for public meetings or workshops conducted by means of communications media technology.

Transportation; Authorizes Secretary of Transportation to appoint certain officers; revises provisions relating to FTC; creates Florida Transportation Research Institute & Florida Transportation Academy & provides functions & requirements for each; revises provisions relating to project funding & funding prioritization, DOT responsibilities, Florida Seaport Transportation & Economic Development Council, commercial service airports, private airports of public interest, reporting requirements, advanced air mobility, performance & productivity measures, & permitting; removes provisions relating to social & economically disadvantaged business enterprises; provides certain authorities power to take certain actions through interlocal agreement; authorizes DOT to require amount of certain bonds be less than certain amount; revises budgetary procedures for DOT; requires EOG to modify approved operating budget for fixed capital outlay expenditures; revises requirements & provides certain conditions for issuance of permit for certain new signs on public rights-of-way; repeals provisions relating to high-occupancy-vehicle lanes, socially & economically disadvantaged business enterprises, penalties for false representation of such enterprises, contract awards to such enterprises, & electric vehicle charging stations & infrastructure plan development.

Nonprofit Agricultural Organization Medical Benefit Plans; Provides authority, duties, & prohibited acts of nonprofit agricultural organizations offering medical benefit plans to their members.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 6043, titled "Recreational Customary Use of Beaches," proposes to repeal existing legal provisions related to establishing public recreational customary use of beaches. This means the bill would remove the current legal framework that defines how the public can establish a right to use certain beach areas based on long-standing recreational practices. If enacted, it would directly affect beachgoers and property owners by altering the legal basis for public access and use of beachfront property.

Maddy summaryHR 8059 is a commemorative resolution that officially designates April 2025 as "Springs Protection Awareness Month." This action aims to raise public awareness regarding the importance of protecting natural springs.

Interscholastic Activities; Revises provisions relating to private schools & students participating in FHSAA sports, FHSAA board of directors & committees on appeals, & certain appeals; requires specified information be posted online.

Agriculture; Renames Agriculture & Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program as Agriculture & Aquaculture Producers Emergency Loan Program; provides that loan funds from loan program may be used for labor costs & to reset & replant agriculture & aquaculture commodities; increases maximum loan amount applicant may receive during application period; authorizes certain applicants to receive supplemental loan; authorizes department to defer or waive loan payments; establishes Silviculture Emergency Recovery Program within department to administer grant program to assist certain timber land owners; requires that grants be used for certain purposes; requires that only timber land located on specified agricultural lands are eligible for program; requires Citrus Research & Development (CRDF) Foundation to work in coordination with department to provide support for certain activities; requires CRDF Foundation to direct & manage certain program; requires department to assist CRDF Foundation in execution of its duties.

Town of Sneads, Jackson County; Transfers real property from Board of Trustees of Internal Improvement Trust Fund to Town Council of Town of Sneads; provides requirements for use & sale or disposition of real property; requires conveyance of real property by specified date.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new section in Florida law that officially defines the term "antisemitism" using the working definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in 2016. The legislation provides specific contemporary examples of antisemitism, such as denying the Holocaust, holding Jewish people collectively responsible for actions by Israel, or applying double standards to the State of Israel compared to other nations. It explicitly states that criticizing Israel in a manner similar to how other countries are criticized does not count as antisemitism under this definition. The law aims to help monitor and report hate crimes while ensuring it does not infringe on First Amendment rights or conflict with existing antidiscrimination laws.

Dozier School for Boys and Okeechobee School Victim Compensation Program; Establishes Dozier School for Boys & Okeechobee School Victim Compensation Program within DLA; requires DLA to provide specified notice & accept & process applications for payment of compensation claims; requires DLA to pay specified compensation amount to approved applicants; limits compensation applicant may receive; authorizes Commissioner of Education to award standard high school diploma to specified persons. APPROPRIATION: $20,000,000